‘Dracula’ director explains birch’s dismissal

The director of an off-Broadway production of “Dracula” has opened up about his decision to release Thora Birch from the show, alleging her father’s “bizarre” behavior made her position untenable.

The Hollywood actress was due to make her New York stage debut in the adaptation of Bram Stoker’s horror classic, but she was dismissed from the cast last Friday amid allegations her dad Jack had threatened another actor during a rehearsal.

Director Paul Alexander claims the alleged incident last Thursday came after a number of “strange” on-set run-ins with Jack Birch, and he’s disappointed he had to let the former child star go.

He tells ABCNews.com, “I had to let her go for the safety of my cast and crew. It’s unfortunate because Thora’s performance would have been an extremely interesting and innovative performance to watch – that’s why I hired her in the first place. …

“It really was like (horror movie) ‘Nightmare on Elm Street.’ It was bizarre. He (Jack Birch) also insisted on hanging out in the girls’ dressing room. And all the girls are in it. Including other people besides his daughter! I just thought, ‘This is getting stranger and stranger.’

“I have a 31-year-old daughter and it would never occur to me to be that involved in my daughter’s life. It seemed to be exactly the opposite for them.”

Jack Birch has denied threatening an actor in rehearsal, telling the New York Times, “I was trying to convey Thora’s discomfort. In no way was I making a threat.”